Guanajuato offers many education options for your family, including public schools, private schools and international schools. Homeschooling is also allowed in Mexico. Many expats choose to put their children in private, bilingual schools because public schools often are crowded. In Guanajuato, the average class size is over 50 and school is five hours each day.
Guanajuato is home to the University of Guanajuato (Universidad de Guanajuato), which provides programs for high school students as well as offering university degrees through the doctorate level. The public university has multiple locations throughout the state of Guanajuato.
The public school system in Mexico is overseen by the Secretariat of Public Instruction (Secretaria de Educacion Publica, SEP). Attendance is mandatory for all students ages 6 to15. Basic education includes pre-primary school for children 3 to 5, elementary school for children 6 to 12 and secondary school for those 13 to 15.
Students at the age of 16 are given the option to continue schooling at the high school level. There are two possible degree options. The first is a qualified technician degree, or profesional tecnico, which is chosen by less than 10 percent of all students. The other is a high-school diploma, or bachillerato, a much more popular option.
The school year in Mexico starts in mid-August and ends in the first days of July and, by law, must cover 200 days.
Many expats opt to enroll their children in international schools, which provide K-12 programs. International schooling is provided for students from elementary school through post-compulsory school. American college entrance examinations (SAT, ACT and AP) and/or British GSCE A-level examinations are available through most international schools. Many international schools also offer either the globally recognized International Baccalaureate (IB) Program or the Cambridge IGCSE and instruction generally is conducted in English and Spanish. Certification from these schools is accepted worldwide for university entrance.
Unfortunately, this option is not available in Guanajuato at this time.
Homeschooling is another option for expats in Guanajuato. There are no laws prohibiting homeschooling in the country, if you choose to do so. You can find out details at this Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) website.
